Scarschifflocks. By L'. S. Maine. (Smith, Elder, and Co.)—This novel
reminds us in certain respects of the old-fashioned stories, of upwards of twenty years ago, and the association is, on the whole, agreeable. It is a moderate story, and if not true to nature to the posi- tively realistic extent which is as much a taste of this day as the violent contrast to naturalness was a taste of three or four years ago, it is not untrue after an unpleasing fashion. It has the old air of story-telling about it, and not that of " studies " of this, that, and the other, which, in the case of novels of any merit at all (but which are not on the very first line "), has usurped that air, and is not se pleasant, or a bit more profitable. There is a good deal of humour of a quiet Scotch kind in Scarschif Rocks, and the plot, which is interesting,, if not suspense-creating, is well worked out. The incident on which it all turns, a deserted wife's strong temptation to accept the true love and honest protection of a good man, deceiving him about her former history, and the inevitable turning-up of the vagabond husband, is very well worn indeed ; but it is cleverly used in this instance. The glimpse of life in New Zealand is pleasant, and altogether one has a friendly regard for the people in the story, in which the author has success- fully depicted common-place characters without making them bores.
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